Max Verstappen won the United States Sprint Grand Prix after both McLaren drivers crashed on the first lap. The result reduces Verstappen’s title deficit to 55 points, with six Grands Prix and two sprints to go.
Title leader Oscar Piastri got a better start than teammate Lando Norris from third and second places on the grid respectively, moving slightly forward into the braking zone of the first corner. Not wanting to hang on the outside of the corner, Piastri cut back to the inside line in an attempt to get past the sister car, but as he switched rows he was hit by Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg.
Hülkenberg, who started fourth, had Fernando Alonso on his inside and had no opportunity to change course. He allowed Piastri to run into Norris, causing a first corner disaster that immediately took both McLaren drivers and Alonso out of the race and caused damage to his car and those of two other drivers.
“That was terrible,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports Television. “None of our drivers are to blame for that.
“An amateur hour of driving from a few other drivers up there… Nico clearly crashed into Oscar, and he had no business being where he was.”
The safety car was deployed to clear the mess in the first sector, and when the race resumed on lap 6, Verstappen led George Russell for the first full race lap of the day.
Russell clung close to the Red Bull Racing car and launched a late braking action into Turn 12 at the end of the main straight on lap 9. He held the inside line but couldn’t slow the car enough to make the corner. Both drivers sailed off the road, with Verstappen retaining the lead and breaking Russell’s momentum.
It was the only time Verstappen’s place was challenged, and he subsequently checked out of the lead to claim a comfortable victory.
“It took a few laps after the safety car before we had a decent pace, so we have to find out what was going on there, but nevertheless we won the sprint, which is the most important thing,” said the world champion. “Looking at tomorrow, I think we have to be a bit better in terms of race equipment to be able to fight against the McLarens because we haven’t seen them yet today.
“We’ll take a look. Of course we have some ideas about what we can do. Hopefully we’ll stick a little better tomorrow.”
Russell consolidated second place with a good result for Mercedes after a moderate sprint qualifying result, although his three-place gain was entirely down to the first lap crash.
“I knew you don’t get many chances with Max, so I saw half a chance and sent it,” he said of his only shot into the lead. “I was probably too far behind.
“I’m glad I tried it. P2 is definitely better than we expected.”
Carlos Sainz completed the podium in third ahead of Williams, with the Spaniard also taking advantage of the first lap chaos to improve the rankings.
“We definitely had a solid race,” he said. “We had a solid pace. The Ferraris were quickly behind, but I was able to keep them under control and we got him P3, which feels really good.”
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both successfully navigated the carnage, scoring points in fourth and fifth, with Hamilton punishing Leclerc for going off the road on lap 9 by decisively passing him at Turn 12 at the end of the straight.
Alex Albon finished sixth ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, who made a sensational start and moved up eleven places before the safety car was called on the first lap. The Red Bull Racing driver appeared to hit carbon fiber as he rounded the first corner on a tight inside line, but any dirt stuck in his car seemed to disappear during the sprint, allowing him to keep the place.
Oliver Bearman took the checkered flag in eighth for the final point of the sprint, but was given a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lead defending the place against Kimi Antonelli. Worse news for the Haas driver was that the sprint ended under another safety car after Lance Stroll kicked Esteban Ocon’s sister Haas off the road with an over-ambitious first corner dive that took both drivers out of the race.
Antonelli inherited eighth place, while the penalty dropped Bearman to 15th and last of the finishers, behind Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto, with the latter two having pitted for repairs at the end of the first lap.
RESULTS
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